The Conservative politician has been invited to Willingdon Golf Club by Eastbourne Conservatives, while a government inspector decides if a golf course mast local councillors helped residents campaign against should get the go-ahead.

The Vodaphone application was rejected by Eastbourne Borough Council in June after an outcry from local residents who feared unproven health risks associated with living near masts.

Vodaphone appealed the decision and an inspector last month visited the site.

He is expected to announce his verdict at the end of January.

Downs Avenue resident Elizabeth Mee said, "The Conservatives are supposed to be fighting this with us.

"They have been in the paper fighting it, we have had letters from them saying they are against it.

"Lo and behold, I opened the Herald and I couldn't believe they are holding dinners at the golf club that wants this mast on its course."

Conservative party agent Peter Sabine said it would be wrong to boycott a venue that was involved with a phone mast application.

"The reason it is being held in Willingdon is it was a particular request of some of our Willingdon members to invite Ann.

"There are not that many venues for people to come and eat and drink in Willingdon other than the Willingdon Golf Club.

"Ann is very generous with her time and is coming to meet people and talk to people and is always very forthright with her views.

"I'm not certain how relevant the discussion about a radio mast is to the event, to be honest.

"All sorts of people put in for these masts because an awful lot of people do use mobiles.

"If we boycotted everywhere that had an application we would be limited in where to go."

Ms Mee said it is an issue for the event.

"I wrote a brief letter to Ann Widdecombe explaining exactly what was happening.

"She replied she was grateful to have been made aware and asked if I would use the event to highlight the situation.

"I think it is important to do that as there are households in the area — in Greenway and Avard Crescent — that are not even aware that a mast may be put here.

"If it does go ahead it will be the fifth or sixth one in the area but the first in the golf course which is a real worry —we will have this coming at us from all directions.

"And now we have learnt there is another mast application in from T-Mobile for the other end of the course.

"It's just so silly.

"There is not a problem with reception here for any network I know of. It's as if it's a money-making thing and the golf course will close and become a field of phone masts.

"It's not like they have proved these are safe so until then it should be everything in moderation."

The result of the appeal is expected at the end of this month, shortly after the Conservative dinner at the golf club on January 25.